Printers are continually thinking faster makeready—and questioning, “What makes it possible?”
Additional queries follow, and they come in rapid-fire succession: “How can I optimize production?” “How can applying best practices better press uptime, improve quality, deliver consistent results and establish stronger process control?” “How will products and tools likely showcased at INFOFLEX 2022 contribute to continuous improvement?”
Manufacturers stand in support of printers’ collective goals to maximize productivity, eliminate waste, maintain sales momentum and build profits. When asked, they stand behind and continually reinforce that commitment—and plan to demonstrate that commitment at FTA’s annual exhibition, March 14-15 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, TX.
Here, prominent exhibitors contracting for space at INFOFLEX 2022—the actual platinum sponsors of the event—explain how printers can put the latest tools available to work for them—factoring in costs, training, supply chains and other challenges.
Executives from Anderson & Vreeland (Paul Teachout, business development manager, narrow web); Daetwyler USA; Miraclon; Paper Converting Machine Co (Rodney Pennings, director of sales – PCL); and tesa tape offer comment.
INFOFLEX’s two Diamond sponsors—Rossini North America and DuPont—will offer similar observations, as well as a welcoming message, next month, in a lead-in to FLEXO Magazine’s signature Official INFOFLEX Exhibit Guide.
FLEXO MAGAZINE: A recent FLEXO Magazine printer poll on 2022 business prospects found a majority resolving to continuously improve by getting better, more consistent and less wasteful; and grappling with plant-wide concerns like raw materials cost, manpower challenges and faster makereadies. Can you comment on how they should go about collecting advice to build capabilities to deal with such issues at INFOFLEX? What tips for navigating the show floor can you offer?
ANDERSON & VREELAND: After two years of disruption, the energy is high to get back to in-person events. INFOFLEX 2022 is sure to be one of the highlights of the year, where technology experts and decision makers from all sides of the industry gather to network and strengthen relationships.
We have all experienced the challenges of workforce and process management over the past few months. Workflow and resource efficiencies have been at the forefront to streamline operations, reduce transaction costs and improve on our overall efficiencies.
During FORUM 2022’s sessions, we will hear from many leading converters and supplier members that will share innovations and new technology that help us navigate the new normal. These sessions can provide a road map of INFOFLEX exhibitors to visit to learn more about these benefits and the people who support them.
DAETWYLER: INFOFLEX is a great place to make connections and begin building some plans to utilize outside resources. Since all these resources are together in one location, organize a meeting with multiple vendors and build a task force to address the most pressing issues.
Bring your largest challenges to INFOFLEX. Have candid conversations with key suppliers. Have a clear understanding of where you are (your current state) and where you want to be (your future state). Also, have a good method in place for how you plan to measure success in your initiative and get input from your supply chain. Organize next steps, set dates and put your plan into action. With the current labor shortage, printers need to reach out for assistance from the technical personnel within their supply chain.
MIRACLON: Our customers are busy and growing, which also confirms Smithers’ prediction that the global value of flexographic printing will rise from $167.7 billion in 2020 to $181.1 billion in 2025. To keep up with this growth, we are seeing that printers are standardizing operational efficiency—looking for ways to streamline the production process, minimize downtime and maximize turnaround times.
Exhibitions like INFOFLEX give attendees the opportunity to learn and compare the latest technologies that will enable them to maximize their press equipment capacity and return on investment. The Miraclon team will be on hand to discuss how KODAK FLEXCEL Solutions address industry challenges and deliver improved consistency and efficiencies—from prepress to the pressroom—to meet growing volume demands.
There are certainly pressures in the supply chain, but the immediate answer lies in operational efficiency and standardization in the print process—and Miraclon can help with that. INFOFLEX provides a perfect platform for the flexographic industry to look at the solutions available today. For example, for faster makereadies, Miraclon’s aqueous plate processing solution, FLEXCEL NX Ultra Solution, enables print-ready plates to be ready in under an hour, minimizing press downtime and fast turnaround of last-minute client changes.
PCMC: By participating in INFOFLEX, printers gain insights into best practices and conventions that will allow them to gain efficiencies, plus gain access to industry experts and suppliers that can provide the vision for the future of printing and advances in the industry.
tesa tape: INFOFLEX is absolutely the right place to explore the possibilities. With all the leading companies in the flexographic market in attendance, there is an incredible amount of knowledge, expertise and insight in attendance at the show. Be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to have multiple value-focused conversations with various individuals across multiple product segments.